‘Tis the season to loathe the season. That is, if you ♥️ writing and all the ⛄️🎄🎁 gets in the way of crafting your story.
Oh, the ho-ho-ho, ha-ha-holidays!
Before trick-or-treaters stormed our neighborhoods, we’ve been bombarded by holiday cheer. Store shelves were already packed with seasonal decorations and themed albums. Streams of lights laced rooftops weeks before we carved the turkey.
Well, I’m a vegetarian, so a figurative turkey.
Now that we’re days away from the “end” of the holiday season, I’m ready to bid the whole month adieu.
Seriously, how long can radio stations really play holiday music?
To clear the air, I am not against the celebration of religious holidays. In fact, it’s the only part of the season that really captivates me. It’s the commercialization of the season that grinds my gears.
Call me Ebenezer, but I know I’m not the only one that feels this way. Just ask anyone whose house is lacking in holiday garland and they’ll give you an earful.
You’d think as a writer, I’d love this season. There’s so much inspiration to write during the holiday season! The lights, the music, the tree, the ornaments, the stockings, the crackling fireplace, the family traditions—an endless list of ideas I can weave into a story.
But that’s not the case for me. Let’s just call it like it is: The holidays suck for writers.
Why, you ask? I’m glad you did.
Writers are creatures of habit. We like to write at specific times of days at specific places using specific mediums. A slight bump in our schedule can stunt our creativity and focus.
It’s a habit after years of struggling to find the right formula that motivates us to write.
But December doesn’t give twelve lords a-leaping about our habits. There are parties to attend (or host), gifts to buy, presents to wrap, cookies to bake, meals to cook, outfits to press, and miles to drive, all in the name of holiday spirit.
And this is why the holiday seasons sucks for writers: There’s simply no time to write.
True, many of us are coming off a successful round of NaNoWriMo, and a writing break in December is well needed.
But there are writers who simply love to write. Yet there’s not enough time this month to make it happen.
So while we’re preparing for the big day or celebrating throughout the season, the thought that we’re not making any progress in our writing gnaws on our mind. And this intense pressure can’t be shooed away with “I’ll catch up on it tomorrow.”
Then, after weeks of not writing, we face the daunting decision of creating our New Year’s resolutions. As if we needed the reminder of what we didn’t accomplish.
Here’s What We Can Do About It
Don’t call us selfish, ungrateful Scrooges. Name-calling does not bring holiday cheer.
Because it’s not that we don’t like spending time with you. We do. We just also want to write too.
So, if we’re a little cranky, let us talk out our frustrations. And, if there’s a moment that we can be spared, encourage us to write.
(And make sure we’re well fed. We don’t want to bring “hangry” into the emotional mix.)
That way, we can all enjoy the holidays in peace.
Calling all writers! Do you think the holiday season sucks for our writing? Share your thoughts below.